Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

Definition: A code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers when they want to show how pleased they are towards someone’s achievements, but want to sound less show-off or exaggerated about their feeling.

Usage: E.g. 你考試咁高分，我好proud of你呀。(You scored so high in the exam. I am so proud of you.)

Synonym: 驕傲，自豪

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@grace_interest_english/post/DDthgzMyHsU

Definition: A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers often use to refer to the Cantonese equivalent '掃描'.

Usage: E.g. 可以scan份document比我嗎？ E.g. 喂，個scanner壞左呀。幾時搵人黎整呀？

Synonym: 掃描

Reference: https://www.esquirehk.com/mens-talk/simon-shen-hong-kong-english-chinese

Definition: The Hong Kong way of referring to the invoice sent to customers, as '發票' is rarely used.

Usage: E.g. 張invoice send左比個客未呀？ E.g. 喂，你咁快send左invoice黎係咪想追我數呀？

Synonym: 發票

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe something or someone that is cool, handsome, or stylish. (型 - ying4)

Usage: E.g. Wa! You look so ying today! (型)

Synonym: 型

Reference: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/hong-kong/articles/8-colloquialisms-unique-to-cantonese

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to refer to starting a fight.

Usage: E.g. This is a school! Don't start a film here!

Synonym: 開片

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone who likes leeching off others. (菠羅雞 - bo1 lo4 gai1)

Usage: E.g. That girl is such a pineapple chicken! She just comes every time for the benefits and does not share or contribute.

Synonym: 菠羅雞

Reference: https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/60017/

Definition: A code-mixing term used by Hong Kong parents when they want to train their kids to be more well-behaved and organised without sounding so harsh and verbose.

Usage: E.g. 你今次考試考到咁低分。以後要discipline啲去溫書，知唔知？！(You got such a low mark in the exam this time. From now on, you should have more discipline to study, understand?)

Synonym: 有紀律

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe someone or something as dull and boring such as having no relationship, which definitely has nothing to do with 'dry dating' in native English.

Usage: E.g. 我近排冇拖拍好dry呀。(I recently haven't been dating, so dry!) E.g. 唔好成日自己一個人咁dry啦。(Don't be always by yourself, so dry!)

Synonym: 沒新鮮感，很無聊，枯燥乏味

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtwE7IA18CY&t=50s

Definition: A Kongish code-mixing phrase that working class Hong Kongers use to describe a business structure that scams people and is prone to collapse or failure, as 'chicken' (雞) in Cantonese can also be used to describe something cheap or weak.

Usage: E.g. This company has people coming to work and leaving the job all the time! Such build chicken shed!

Synonym: 搭雞棚

Reference: https://ukdodgy.com/2024/04/06/scam

Definition: A code-mixing term used by native Hong Kongers to refer to something happening or behaving the same way as before over time.

Usage: E.g. 我：‘I need to stay consistent!’ 講英文人：Consistent 廣東話係乜嘢？(Me: I need to stay consistent! English speaker: What is consistent in Cantonese?)

Synonym: keep住

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@tracywongdc/post/DE-HfeUuJEx